EPA proposes higher biofuel blending for large refiners

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed Tuesday that larger refiners must blend more biofuels over the next two years. The move comes ahead of November’s congressional elections and appears aimed at farm-state voters.

The EPA’s proposal would reallocate 100% of the renewable fuel volume obligations that were waived for 29 small refineries at the end of August. Those credits were waived for the 2025 compliance year.

The agency outlined two possible approaches and is requesting public comment on both options. The first approach would divide the additional 2025 small refinery exemption volume equally between the 2026 and 2027 compliance years. The second option would assign the entire volume to 2027.

The EPA said in a statement that comments must be submitted by Dec. 4, 2026.